Codex: Cryptozoia Entry - The Woolvir

The Woolvir are anthropomorphic sheep people that live in the cold, barren highlands of the north.

Physical Description: In my extensive observations, I would estimate that the woolvir have a diversity in appearance to rival humans. Betwixt neck and knee, they are ostensibly human-shaped, with long torsos and muscular arms that end in multi-finger extremities very similar to human hands. The similarities in our species end there, I am afraid.

The woolvir all have the heads of bighorn sheep, with long furry snouts and wide-set eyes. The rams (males) have huge, twisting horns coming out of the tops of their heads, while the females (ewes) have a small pair of horns that have less curvature. They walk on two legs and have hooves for feet, likely to find more stable purchase in the steep and rocky wastelands they populate.

Their bodies are covered in white, wool-like fur. They wear no clothes, and apparently have no conception of modesty, as I have witnessed them conduct their mating activities in the open, like animals. They have no tails.

Habitat: They seem to prefer the loftier elevations, such as in the Hyperborean Mountains.

Organization: Isolated tribes, usually between 30 to 60 woolvir per tribe.

General Observations: While the woolvir are placid enough to make personal interaction possible, I found them to be unpleasant and rude social companions. They are a hot-headed people prone to rash decision making and inexplicable swings of mood. I never found my life to be in any immediate peril in their company, yet their lack of any semblance of social acuity made their company verging on unbearable. In addition to their generally boorish behavior … I am failing to phrase this with discretion, so I shall be plain: the woolvir place no importance on personal hygiene. These people smell awful.

Silas and I agreed that our study of the woolvir was best conducted from a distant remove.

We also agree that the most interesting aspect of woolvir society are their naming conventions. All woolvir names start with a three letter prefix that designates the individual woolvir’s status in their society. For example, the Baa are the most powerful members of the tribe, the chieftain of the clan we studied was named Baa’scaa. The most distinguished class of warrior in woolvir society is the Baa’serker. These mad warriors use fits of rage to fuel their heroic fighting style. Common members of the tribe are the Naa, and the subservient class are the called the Mee. One of the most tolerable of the woolvir I managed to interact with was a borderline slave named Mee’zet, who lacked the aggression of the Baa or even the Naa classes, a trait I found admirable but was obviously met with denigration by the woolvir themselves. Mee’zet expressed a fondness for poor Silas and begged me to allow him to be kept as a pet, a turn of events I found far more amusing than my shin’hare companion.

- from the journal of Lord Bernard P. Dunthorpe